E-scooter rider Bryce Porter sentenced for ‘contemptuous’ cop-chase doughnuts

An e-scooter rider was left to sweat overnight in lockup while a magistrate considered his fate for a series of dangerous driving offences, during which a court heard he taunted police by doing doughnuts.

An e-scooter rider was left to sweat overnight in lockup while a magistrate considered his fate for a series of dangerous driving offences, during which a court heard he taunted police by doing doughnuts.

A bold scooter rider faced Ipswich court with a new outlook after a magistrate ordered he spend the night in lockup.

Collingwood Park removalist Bryce Leigh Porter, 23, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on May 17, 2023, to two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle, and one count each of evasion, using a vehicle with a licence plate given for another vehicle, possessing explosives without authority to do so, and driving without a licence.

The court heard the charges related to two separate traffic incidents – the first on November 27 last year.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella said Porter ran a red light while riding an electric scooter in Collingwood Park midmorning.

He said Porter was travelling around 50km/hr on the scooter and attempted to overtake police.

The court heard Porter accelerated to around 60km/hr and moved onto the incorrect side of the road.

Mr Kinsella said police tried to engage with Porter and he accelerated onto a bypath, where he “seemed to be somewhat contemptuous of the police” by doing doughnuts.

Porter was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle as a result, and police found him in possession of ammunition when they searched him.

The court heard Porter then drove a motorbike on a disqualified licence, with the incorrect licence plates, on January 28 this year.

Mr Kinsella said police activated their sirens and gave chase, and Porter responded by accelerating onto a gutter, into a garden and through some trees.

“You missed a telephone box, you were riding at high speed, you didn’t stop, and importantly you continued despite the police trying to intervene,” Mr Kinsella said.

Mr Kinsella noted Porter had a pillion passenger at the time.

The court heard Porter had a previous entry on his traffic history for dangerous operation of a vehicle and another for disqualified driving.

Defence lawyer Geoffrey Seaholme said his client struggled with impulse control due to his autism and that he might benefit from some sort of supervision.

He said Porter now had a job lined up in Rockhampton and had participated in a Queensland traffic offenders course since the offending.

Mr Kinsella said he was considering giving Porter an actual jail sentence because of his history.

He ultimately decided to adjourn his decision until Thursday, May 18, so that he could consider his verdict carefully.

Mr Kinsella ordered that Porter be remanded in custody overnight.

When the matter resumed, Porter appeared over video link from the Ipswich watch-house.

“This sort of scared me a little,” he told Mr Kinsella.

Mr Kinsella told him it was “very much a line ball call” but that he had decided not to send Porter to jail.

“I suspect this is something you’re going to grow out of and I suspect you’ve probably started that process.”

He sentenced Porter to four months imprisonment, wholly suspended for a period of 12 months.

Porter was further sentenced to 12 months probation and fined $7187.50 – which was referred to SPER.

He was disqualified from driving for a total of at least four years.

Convictions were recorded for the second dangerous operation offence, the disqualified drive and the licence plate offence – but not for the remaining offences.

Originally published as E-scooter rider Bryce Porter sentenced for ‘contemptuous’ cop-chase doughnuts